Fireworks get funky as capital sees in New Year
IT’S world famous as the home of Hogmanay – and hundreds of thousands from around the globe were in Edinburgh last night to welcome in 2020.
Revellers enjoyed clear skies during a chilly night of festivities, with the mercury hovering just above freezing.
The capital’s annual street party featured acts including Mark Ronson, Marc Almond and Idlewild. It culminated in a dazzling fireworks display choreographed to a soundtrack performed live by Ronson.
The Uptown Funk star, 44, appeared at Glastonbury and won an Oscar in 2019, but finished the year as the star of ‘Mark Ronson’s Hogmanay in the Gardens’, performing live through the Bells in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
Revealing that his maternal grandmother came from Edinburgh, he said: ‘It’s such an exciting thing to be part of. My mother talked about Hogmanay so we knew about it growing up as kids. I’ve brought all my cousins up on the train.’
In Glasgow, a variety of events were on offer, including a redhot Salsa party at the Merchant City bar Boteco do Brasil.
Other communities around Scotland celebrated in their own unique ways. Residents of Stonehaven, in Kincardineshire, lined the streets to enjoy the annual fireball spectacular.
Locals in Comrie, Perthshire, were attending the Flambeaux parade while Biggar, in Lanarkshire, had a spectacular bonfire in the main street.
Those of us who celebrated at home saw the BBC’s annual Hogmanay show feature an entirely new line-up, including comedian Susan Calman, after veteran presenter Jackie Bird stepped down.
Des Clarke was out partying with the crowds in Edinburgh, while Amy Irons reported back to the studio live from the Stonehaven ceremony.
In London, 100,000 revellers kicked off the new decade with a riverside firework celebration of the city’s upcoming key role in football’s Euro 2020 Championship.
But in Hong Kong, the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Victoria Harbour were cancelled due to security concerns.
‘Exciting thing to be part of’